Nothing much....

Nothing much is going on....I was really angry in my last post, and I apologize for spewing that on all of you.

But, it happens.

That person at my job tends to get under my skin, and I am really starting to try hard to tolerate her more effectively.  After all, I am forced to spend the majority of my time in her presence, and making it comfortable for myself will only make me healthier.

She is miserable in her own life, and she wants others to pay attention to her and share her misery.

I am trying to develop compassion for someone who is that sad, and deal with her from that place instead of letting her suck me in with her bad vibes.

It worked for a day or so this past week, and that is really  huge progress.

I have to remember who I really am and stay in that place.

Anyway....I've had a few massage clients lately, and that has helped me to feel more like myself.  Hopefully, I'll get a little repeat business.

I know I'll never make a full time job of it again...I can't, because I need something that pays into retirement benefits.  Gotta be practical.

However, if I can see a few clients here and there, and get back that feeling of making a difference for people, that will be enough.

Dave received news that he's getting a pay raise at the beginning of March.  That will help make up for both of our checks becoming recognizably smaller with the tax changes this year.

My miniscule "poke in the eye" raise (every year, my work load increases, and my review scores go down, and my raise percentage goes down...I started out with a 3% raise, this year was 2%) disappeared into the taxes, and my checks are smaller now than they were last year.

Dave's will recover, thankfully, but not until March.

Meantime, we're doing okay with careful balancing.

We found an awesome old dinette table at our favorite antique mall yesterday.  We'd been contemplating getting SOMETHING to increase our available counter space in the kitchen, by adding something to the nook where the hoosier is.

We knew that it would have to go at a 90 degree angle to the hoosier and make parts of the hoosier inaccessible, but we really need the space.

Found an old vintage formica and chrome table with pull-out leaves and a little drawer.  It's the perfect size for the spot, and it was QUITE affordable.

Having reduced access to the bottom of the hoosier, we went through what was in there, and are taking donations to a thrift store today that include the George Foreman grill I've used exactly once in 3 years, and the rice cooker and yogurt maker, both of which have fallen into disuse as well, since our switch over to a largely grain and dairy free diet.

Now, all that's in those cabinets under there is the crock pot, the hand mixer, the stick blender, the coffee grinder, and lots of extra coffee cups.

The regular-use things that we had in the hoosier drawer have been moved to the table drawer, so we think this arrangement will work out nicely.  What's left in the drawer are the extras and not used much utensiles that I still want to keep, and the mauals for all of our appliances.

Plus, now the produce that sits on the hoosier doesn't have to be exposed to the radiant heat when the crock pot is going, because now, I can set the crock pot over on the table!

Plus, since it's a dinette table, there's still room UNDER it for the cats' dishes and supplies!

Now, really, the only things we want for the house eventually are a set of grossly mis-matched dining room chairs.  Just because I want that!  HAH!

Well, we're off today to drop off those donations, take the recycling to the collection site, and stop at the LUSH store for some bar shampoo.  Everyone have a good Sunday!

People suck

I was SO SURE I wasn't going to get sick this winter....SO SURE!

But then my cube mate, let's call her Mrs. Coughingstein, came to work with a fever and her absurdly dramatic cough.  She is 65 and has no apparent capability to cover her mouth when she coughs.  Ever.

She stood in the middle of the cube, ranting about how bad she felt...how sick...and then started coughing coughing coughing.... spraying those microscopic droplets all over my other cube mate and me, and our desks, and our phones, and our jackets, and everything.

I did my best to disinfect...wiping everything down with antiseptic wipes...when I got home that day, I started a vigilant self care program with immune boosting lifestyle measures (trying to get enough sleep, taking extra vitamin C, taking herbs).....but she got me.  She got both of us.

I even asked her to wear a mask on that day when she was spewing all over us, and she refused.  She said it's too hard to talk on the phone with one of those on.  WELL WEAR IT WHEN YOU'RE NOT ON THE PHONE!

I'd complained about her absurd, disruptive, attention grabbing cough a few months ago, and our boss's boss laughed me off.  She wasn't SICK then.....I should mention that she coughs like that ALL THE TIME.  It is extremely annoying and stressful to sit with her, since I don't deal well with abrupt, loud noises.  Never have.

Anyway, this time, since the offending party was actually sick, and clearly bent on spreading it....the woman who sits in the office next to our cube actually went to our top boss and complained about it....but to no avail.

My guess is that because of our company's very restrictive sick leave policy, no one can TELL her she has to stay home if she's sick...because, you see, we get penalized for a full year for any time that we call off sick.

So, instead of paying that consequence and protecting her co workers, she came in sick, coughed all over everyone, and got us all sick...and now WE all have those marks against us, instead of her.

What the hell?   My guess is she gets some kind of satisfaction out of doing it.

Anyway.....the lady in the office who complained had good reason.  She has health issues, and has to be really careful about getting viruses and stuff.   She's sick too, because Mrs. Coughingstein went into her office to ask about something, and coughed all over her, too.

And our supervisor got sick, too, because she went into HER office that day, too!

But no one can do anything about it. Or they refuse to.

I am not sure which.

I missed 2 days last week, because I personally refuse to go to work if I have a fever.....and my other cube mate has missed 3 days, so far.  Hers went into full blown bronchitis.

I went to the doctor last week, only to be told it's a virus. It has to run its course.  
She did confirm it isn't flu.  So there's that.

All together, I had 6 continuous days of low grade fever, lethargy, congestion, coughing, head ache, and sore throat.

Today, for the first time, my throat finally feels better, and the fever is seemingly gone for good. The bone deep tired feeling is better.  But I have blisters on, and skin missing from, my nose from the relentless discharge.  I can't sleep because when I lie down, I cough.

I hope she's effing happy.  I hope she gets something out of doing this to people.

Jeezus.

2013

Peace of mind

Lightness of being

Prosperity of worldly goods

Vigor of health

Bounty of love



these things I wish for all of us in the new year.

The days between....

(yeah, that's a somewhat obscure Grateful Dead reference...whatchoo gonna do about it? LOL)

Christmas day was a quiet stay-at-home kind of day with predictions of heavy snow that never came.  We got a dusting, and some ice, too.   It was really cold and windy.

But there wasn't enough of anything to cancel work on the next day, dammit.

My first ever sauerbraten turned out PERFECTLY.  Oh wow, was it GOOD!  New Christmas day tradition!!

The goodies my sister sent sat under the tree until Christmas day, which has not happened before.  Usually, Dave insists that we open everything when the box arrives, but this year, he exhibited restraint!

She sent stuff that I love from Trader Joes (which we do not have in Oklahoma because of the stupid liquor laws here), and some cloth napkins to start my collection!  Yay!

And also a recipe for chicken chili that I tried already and we LOVED!

Since Dave's been off work since the 21st, he went and did all of the weekly errands yesterday while I was at work, so that was nice.  All groceries were gotten without my having to participate!

This weekend, we went to the movies for the first time in many months, and saw "Lincoln."

Oh my dear God...you really should see that movie.  It's phenomenal.

And we're doing laundry and I'm cooking.  Just a normal type weekend.  These are just the days between Christmas and New years.

I have to work new years' eve, but that night, when I get home, I'll roast a chicken for us to sup on, and we have a split of champagne for our toast...though, since I have to get up at 5:45 for work that morning, I have some doubt as to my ability to make it to midnight to bit 2012 a most fond adieu.

(incidentally, 2012, if we make it through 12/31 without incident, will be the first year that I have been here in which David has NOT BEEN HOSPITALIZED!!!  THAT is something to celebrate!)

The friends we brunched with last weekend MIGHT join us at some point on NYE, but I haven't heard yet if they're coming or not.

New year's day will be a blissful day off work, and I will make black eyed pea and Virginia ham soup.   It's just one day off, though, so no big plans.  It's also the last day of Dave's vacation.

And I will heartily welcome 2013.  I have a good feeling about this coming year.  I had a good feeling about 2011, too, but let's hope 13 does better by me.

Merry Christmas

Our Christmas Eve feast was relaxed and lovely, and the ham was spectacular!  Our guests were pleased.

This morning dawned very cold, and ice-coated.  The sleet woke me in the night clicking against the windows.

But Santa came anyway, and he brought me a print of Klimt's "The Kiss" that is now hanging in the bedroom.

Beautiful. I love it.

Dave is happy with his military history book, and his BACON themed t shirt.

It started snowing a few hours ago, which made me VERY happy,  but it's only amounted to a layer of white dust on top of the ice. 

Probably not enough for the office to close tomorrow because of inclement weather, but a girl can dream.

We're enjoying left over green bean casserole and potato salad for lunch, and my first ever sauerbraten went into the oven an hour or so ago, after 3 days of marinating in the fridge.

I am VERY excited to taste it much, much later today! 

Wishing everyone who reads this peace of mind, joy of heart, and robust good health in the coming year.

Big change

 BEFORE

AFTER

Yep.  I did it.  I look like my sister from this angle!  *smile*

This is the next step in letting it grow out without trying to cover the white.  I've always tried to stay with colorings that closely match what I was born with...but what I was born with is hair that started turning white 25 years ago.

I used a temp color for years--at least a decade, so the color you see is mine, except for a few "low lights" I had added several months ago to ease the transition.

I'll wear it short for a while, trimming off the last of the parts that haven't gone white yet 

Then, I'll consider growing it out again....because long hair is what I've always loved most.

Yuleifying

Yule is this coming Friday.
The fire pit is ready.  The wassail will be made.  A modest feast will be had.  The rebirth of Light will be observed and honored. Lights will burn all night.

Christmas Eve is the next Monday.

Ham will be boiled, and spoonbread baked. These sacraments will be shared with  guests, who finally said yes. Cups will be raised. Music will be enjoyed. Santa will come, a stealthy elf in the night. 

As for other things Christmas, the cards are sent, the gifts are procured and wrapped.  Next, all we have to do is get the shipping part taken care of.  Bottles of wine will be sent to friends, and a box of wrapped presents will be sent to my family.

It's all coming together quite nicely, and I am feeling better about it every day.
Trying not to weep over the tragedy in Connecticut today.  Trying not to miss my family so much it hurts my belly.
I'm succeeding.  Barely.